Thank you for sharing. Back in the 1970's I wanted one of these but was often too broke to even pay attention. When introduced (as a Roberts 778x here in the states) in late 1969 the street price was about $450. Way more than I could afford. They were still "pricey" so to speak at $200 for a used in the late 1970's so I never got one. As you noted they were very useful for transfer of your reel tapes to 8 track (for the car or on the go). Overall specifications for the unit were decent and they worked well. A catastrophic issue with these manual Akai and Roberts machines is the control cams. They were cast metal and some disintegrate with time. For years you couldn't get parts except from cannibalizing other units. Today someone is making replacements you can buy on-line. I'm glad to see your unit is working great and being enjoyed and loved. It is classic deck.
Bought exactly the same machine a few months back, needs a bit of tlc but still in great working order. I'm entirely new to reels, 8 tracks, and the players for both of them. Think its really cool tech and you just don't get the same kind of sound nowadays as you do on something like this. Was unaware of the bass/treble dial so thank your that info! I dont have any reels yet (machine came with 24 assorted 8tracks tho) but would like to get some eventually.
I have had one of those since I was a kid. It was my dad's before I found it and claimed it. I played with it a lot when I was younger, but it got stowed away in a closet when we moved. I dug it out when I moved out and it has been sitting in a corner until today 12/30/2020. It's gonna need a lot of TLC to get it working right, but I hope to have it running again in the near future.
@@ASilentS it's in pretty rough shape electronically, but it does come on. I think I may have blown the internal speakers on it, but I did connect it up to the stereo I had at the time. I really want to start messing with it again, but before I can, I have to take care of its issues. I need money for that and right now it's I m short supply.
Now I'm really curious as to whether the same motor that runs the reel to reel capstan also drives the 8 Track. It would be nice to have one very reliable unit for both formats.
Awsome, there is one for sale, here in Norway. My maternal grandfather used to have one, but it seems like it is gone, with his tapes, can you Record from a modern turntable to this reel to reel player. ?
Modern? Any phonograph with a built in phono amp can be used with this unit. Older ones without an amp would have to be sent through a receiver or a dedicated phono amp.
Yes. Just have the 8-track selector switch pushed in and then turn the playback lever to record. The transport for the reels will still be active (so you might want to take any reels off) but it will record to the 8-track. Two things to note, you need to have the "Automatic" switch on the front turned off and the speed set to low (if you want to playback on a regular 8-track deck).
I have the Akai 1810D in the shop now for service. can it records from an ipod/i phone/computer to 8 track. ? another question is do i need a seperate amp for a passive speakers? thanks
I inherited one of these today. BUT, I have no tape.. Do you have a link for where I can get tape and reels for it? (Along with type, and size of reels and tape)
This unit takes 1/4 inch tape on reels up to 7 inches in diameter. I would suggest eBay to get some. Also note, it does not natively accept NAB reels (the ones with the large hole in the center) but adaptors are available.
Thanks, I just bought one and it works.How do you record to the 8 track ? How do you change the speed with that small reel. What are the Equalisation button and the one in the centre between the reels?
If I understood your questions correctly, here are some answers: Record to 8-track by pushing the cart button and moving the tape playback switch to record. If you want to transfer from tape to 8-track use the orange transfer button instead. Put the "small reel" onto the capstan shaft (the little rod that spins when the unit is on) and it gives you the speeds of 3 3/4 ips on low speed and 7 1/2 ips on high speed. The equalization switch is set depending on which tape speed your running. You change the little screw between the reels depending on the frequency of your country's electrical supply (50 Hz or 60 Hz)
@@ASilentS I think you are wrong on the speed specifications (I can’t access the manual even with the link). I think with the selector at low (without the sleeve) it does 1 7/8, with the selector on high (without the sleeve) it does 3 3/4, with the selector at low (with the sleeve) it does 7 1/2 and finally with the selector at high (with the sleeve) it does 15. Correct me if I’m wrong as I don’t have the machine yet
@@hahaahah7214 Checked the manual. I was correct. For 15ips you need a special capstan sleeve which was not originally included. So that's: 1 7/8 - Low speed, no sleeve 3 3/4 - Low speed, use sleeve 7 1/2 - High speed, use sleeve 15 - High speed, special 15 ips sleeve Not sure what high speed/no sleeve gets you but it might be interesting to figure that out.
@@ASilentS it may double the speed because low speed+sleeve is exactly half the speed of high speed+sleeve. So for 3 3/4 you can use low speed+sleeve and high speed+sleeve if I do my maths correctly and understand it
I wanna know, is this a 4 track? Like can I record 4 different instruments? Thank you.I got it to record my instruments on it but I feel like I’m doing something wrong.
i had it and had it serviced. I didn't like it at all as the mono mode only 1 channel plays. i sold it for the same money i paid for it 300 euros. I'll never buy any 2 systems in one again. I have recently added a GRUNDIG TK 46 ,and it's much better too. 3 speed 4trk. but i'm looking for a PHILIPS N4520. Greetings from Greece
When done with side one you take off the take-up reel (which is now full of tape) and put it on the supply reel socket. But you have to flip it so the side that was facing outwards is now facing the machine. Hope that makes sense.
Hey man, saw your comment on the latest Getting Doug With High! I'm a UK toker and I make these dumb stoner comedy videos - could you check them out if you have a spare few minutes? Have an awesome day!
imgur.com/a/l8QBDOx I would highly suggest you take a look at the manual. You have made two errors. - The pinch roller is nowhere close to the tape cleaner, it's over by the capstan. - The tape is properly positioned. The tape cleaner is currently in it's stored position and is not meant to contact the tape at all times. You push the small silver button to the left of the tape cleaner roller and it swings down counterclockwise to lightly brush the playing side of the tape. If one threaded the tape as you suggest, the cleaning pad would never contact the tape when it is deployed.
Thank you for sharing. Back in the 1970's I wanted one of these but was often too broke to even pay attention. When introduced (as a Roberts 778x here in the states) in late 1969 the street price was about $450. Way more than I could afford. They were still "pricey" so to speak at $200 for a used in the late 1970's so I never got one. As you noted they were very useful for transfer of your reel tapes to 8 track (for the car or on the go). Overall specifications for the unit were decent and they worked well. A catastrophic issue with these manual Akai and Roberts machines is the control cams. They were cast metal and some disintegrate with time. For years you couldn't get parts except from cannibalizing other units. Today someone is making replacements you can buy on-line. I'm glad to see your unit is working great and being enjoyed and loved. It is classic deck.
Bought exactly the same machine a few months back, needs a bit of tlc but still in great working order. I'm entirely new to reels, 8 tracks, and the players for both of them. Think its really cool tech and you just don't get the same kind of sound nowadays as you do on something like this.
Was unaware of the bass/treble dial so thank your that info! I dont have any reels yet (machine came with 24 assorted 8tracks tho) but would like to get some eventually.
eBay has reels
I have had one of those since I was a kid. It was my dad's before I found it and claimed it. I played with it a lot when I was younger, but it got stowed away in a closet when we moved. I dug it out when I moved out and it has been sitting in a corner until today 12/30/2020. It's gonna need a lot of TLC to get it working right, but I hope to have it running again in the near future.
I'm happy you're there to care for it!
@@ASilentS it's in pretty rough shape electronically, but it does come on. I think I may have blown the internal speakers on it, but I did connect it up to the stereo I had at the time. I really want to start messing with it again, but before I can, I have to take care of its issues. I need money for that and right now it's I m short supply.
Now I'm really curious as to whether the same motor that runs the reel to reel capstan also drives the 8 Track. It would be nice to have one very reliable unit for both formats.
Yeah, all functions are powered by one motor.
Muy buen sonido tiene!
Awsome, there is one for sale, here in Norway. My maternal grandfather used to have one, but it seems like it is gone, with his tapes, can you Record from a modern turntable to this reel to reel player. ?
Modern? Any phonograph with a built in phono amp can be used with this unit. Older ones without an amp would have to be sent through a receiver or a dedicated phono amp.
@@ASilentS i was thinking of my audio Technica turntable atlp60xbt
@@SolidShaves Should be good 👍
Can you record straight to 8 track instead of record to reel to reel transfer to 8 track.
Yes. Just have the 8-track selector switch pushed in and then turn the playback lever to record. The transport for the reels will still be active (so you might want to take any reels off) but it will record to the 8-track. Two things to note, you need to have the "Automatic" switch on the front turned off and the speed set to low (if you want to playback on a regular 8-track deck).
@@ASilentS sweet! Thanks a lot
I have the Akai 1810D in the shop now for service. can it records from an ipod/i phone/computer to 8 track. ? another question is do i need a seperate amp for a passive speakers? thanks
I inherited one of these today. BUT, I have no tape.. Do you have a link for where I can get tape and reels for it? (Along with type, and size of reels and tape)
This unit takes 1/4 inch tape on reels up to 7 inches in diameter. I would suggest eBay to get some. Also note, it does not natively accept NAB reels (the ones with the large hole in the center) but adaptors are available.
Saludos!
Thanks, I just bought one and it works.How do you record to the 8 track ? How do you change the speed with that small reel. What are the Equalisation button and the one in the centre between the reels?
If I understood your questions correctly, here are some answers:
Record to 8-track by pushing the cart button and moving the tape playback switch to record. If you want to transfer from tape to 8-track use the orange transfer button instead.
Put the "small reel" onto the capstan shaft (the little rod that spins when the unit is on) and it gives you the speeds of 3 3/4 ips on low speed and 7 1/2 ips on high speed.
The equalization switch is set depending on which tape speed your running.
You change the little screw between the reels depending on the frequency of your country's electrical supply (50 Hz or 60 Hz)
P.S. You can download the user manual here:
www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/akai/x-1800sd.shtml
@@ASilentS I think you are wrong on the speed specifications (I can’t access the manual even with the link).
I think with the selector at low (without the sleeve) it does 1 7/8, with the selector on high (without the sleeve) it does 3 3/4, with the selector at low (with the sleeve) it does 7 1/2 and finally with the selector at high (with the sleeve) it does 15. Correct me if I’m wrong as I don’t have the machine yet
@@hahaahah7214 Checked the manual. I was correct. For 15ips you need a special capstan sleeve which was not originally included.
So that's:
1 7/8 - Low speed, no sleeve
3 3/4 - Low speed, use sleeve
7 1/2 - High speed, use sleeve
15 - High speed, special 15 ips sleeve
Not sure what high speed/no sleeve gets you but it might be interesting to figure that out.
@@ASilentS it may double the speed because low speed+sleeve is exactly half the speed of high speed+sleeve. So for 3 3/4 you can use low speed+sleeve and high speed+sleeve if I do my maths correctly and understand it
La velocidad alta es para jazz o musica clásica
found mine in a dumpster ,very nice unit...
Muy buen eqipo
I wanna know, is this a 4 track? Like can I record 4 different instruments? Thank you.I got it to record my instruments on it but I feel like I’m doing something wrong.
i had it and had it serviced. I didn't like it at all as the mono mode only 1 channel plays. i sold it for the same money i paid for it 300 euros. I'll never buy any 2 systems in one again. I have recently added a GRUNDIG TK 46 ,and it's much better too. 3 speed 4trk. but i'm looking for a PHILIPS N4520. Greetings from Greece
How do you play side 2 of the tape
When done with side one you take off the take-up reel (which is now full of tape) and put it on the supply reel socket. But you have to flip it so the side that was facing outwards is now facing the machine. Hope that makes sense.
Just found one in my closet I forgot I inherited
Need replacement belts.
Para grabar rock es mejor la velocidad baja
Hey man, saw your comment on the latest Getting Doug With High! I'm a UK toker and I make these dumb stoner comedy videos - could you check them out if you have a spare few minutes? Have an awesome day!
I generally don't like spam, but for a fellow Dougite I'll definitely check it out.
Cheers, man!
Carlos Walnut4 weeks agoThe voische of an angel..
You forgot to place the reel tape between pinch roller and the tape cleaner arm piece on the left side.
imgur.com/a/l8QBDOx
I would highly suggest you take a look at the manual. You have made two errors.
- The pinch roller is nowhere close to the tape cleaner, it's over by the capstan.
- The tape is properly positioned. The tape cleaner is currently in it's stored position and is not meant to contact the tape at all times. You push the small silver button to the left of the tape cleaner roller and it swings down counterclockwise to lightly brush the playing side of the tape. If one threaded the tape as you suggest, the cleaning pad would never contact the tape when it is deployed.